Casino wagering system with additional options for pairs

ABSTRACT

A method, system, and computer readable storage to implement a variation of a blackjack game with an improved splitting mechanism. In an embodiment, the player cannot split unless the player is dealt a qualifying pair. If the player is dealt a qualifying pair, then one (or both) of the initial player&#39;s cards is replaced and then the two cards are split and played out as separate hands.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims foreign priority to patent application number 1301408.9, filed on Jan. 28, 2013 in the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present general inventive concept is directed to a method, apparatus, and computer readable storage medium directed to a wagering game.

2. Description of the Related Art:

The casino game of blackjack is well known, for example see U.S. Patent publication 2003/0155715 which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method of implementing the known game of blackjack.

Points totals are computed by adding the standard rank value of each card, with face valued cards (tens, jacks, queens, kings) being given a value of 10, and aces being given a value of 1 or 11, whichever results in a better hand. A soft point total is where at least one ace is given the value of 11. A hard point total is a hand with all aces counting as 1.

In operation 100, the player makes a main wager by placing chips on a table. Then, in operation 102, the dealer deals two initial cards to each player (either face up or face down) and two initial cards to the dealer, typically one face down (“hole-card”), and one face up (the “up-card”). Then the player can decide whether to hit, stand, double, or split. If the player decides to hit, then the method proceeds to operation 106, which deals an additional card to a player. If a determination 108 determines that the player has busted (the player's hard point total is over 21), then the player loses the game and thus loses the main wager in operation 110, which ends the game. If the determination 108 determines that the player has not busted, then the method returns to operation 104, where the player can make another decision whether to hit or stand. In operation 104, the player can also double (not pictured) by place an additional wager of up to the main wager, but the player is limited to drawing only one additional card before the player must stand.

If the player stands and has not busted out (either stands on his or her initial two cards or draws cards but has a point total under 22 and then stands), then the method proceeds to operation 112, which reveals all dealer's cards (e.g., turns the hole-card face up) and which then plays out the dealer's hand according to predetermined rules. In operation 114, if the dealer's total is greater than a predetermined amount (typically 17), then the dealer stands (proceeds to operation 122). If the dealer's total is not greater than the predetermined amount, the method proceeds to operation 116 which deals an additional card to the dealer. If it is then determined 118 that the dealer has not busted (has a point total over 21), the method returns to operation 114. If the dealer has busted, then the player wins the game and the main wager in operation 120 (this assumes the player has not also busted; if the player has already busted then the player would have lost in operation 110).

In operation 122, both the player and the dealer have played out their hand and neither have busted. Thus, their respective point totals (adding the numerical values of each card in the hand) are compared. If the dealer's point total is determined in operation 124 to be lower than the player's point total, then the player wins the game and the main wager in operation 120. Otherwise, if the dealer's point total is determined 128 to be greater than the player's point total, then the player loses the game and the main wager in operation 130. If the player's point total ties the dealer's point total, then that results in a “push” in operation 126 in which the player doesn't win or lose the main wager (the main wager is a wash).

If a player is initially dealt two identically ranked cards in operation 102 (e.g., two 2's, two 10-valued cards, etc.), players can also split in operation 104 by placing an additional split wager equal in value to the main wager, and the player's two initial cards are separated and the dealer deals an additional card on each. The player then plays out each of the two separate hands, each from operation 104 as separate hands. Depending on house rules, players may or may not be allowed to resplit cards.

One disadvantage of the prior art splitting rule is that the player is forced to make an additional wager to split. For example, if the player is dealt a pair of 8's versus a dealer's upcard of 10, the correct basic strategy is to always split these 8's by placing an additional wager on the table. However, some players may not be happy about placing an additional wager in this situation because some may feel to player an 8 versus a 10 is a losing proposition.

Thus, what is needed is an improvement to the prior art splitting mechanism in which the player may not be required to place an additional wager in order to split.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a casino blackjack improvement.

These together with other aspects and advantages which will be subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention, will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method of implementing the known game of blackjack;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of implementing a splitting in a blackjack game by replacing card(s), according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of implementing splitting in a blackjack game by offering the player an option to play one or both hands, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of implementing splitting in a blackjack game by offering the player an option to play one or both hands with an additional play-option pair, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5A is a drawing illustrating a gaming table, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5B is a block diagram illustrating an electronic player tracking system associated with each gaming table, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6A is a block diagram illustrating exemplary hardware that can be used to implement an electronic version of the methods described herein; and

FIG. 6B is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary network configuration to implement a player playing an online version of the methods described herein;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method of implementing the known game of blackjack.

In general, casino blackjack is played by one or more players at a gaming table against a dealer using one or more decks of cards (each deck can be a standard 52 card deck). The idea is for the player to make a point total closest to 21 without going over 21 (busting). Each player (after making a main wager) is dealt two initial cards (typically face up) and the dealer is also dealt two cards (one face up—the upcard, and one face down—the hole card). The player can stand on his or her initial two cards, or continuously hit (take another card) until the player stands or the player's point total is over 21 (upon which the player automatically loses). If the player has not busted, then after the player stands the dealer will play out the dealer's hand according to predetermined rules. One set of dealer predetermined rules is as follows: the dealer will continuously hit until the dealer's point total is greater than 16. Once the dealer has resolved the dealer's hand, the wager is resolved. If the player has busted then the player loses (the main wager). If the player has not busted but the dealer has busted (the dealer's point total is over 21) then the player wins (wins even money on the main wager). If both the player and the dealer have not busted, then if the player's point total is higher than the dealer's point total then the player wins (wins even money on the main wager). If both the player and the dealer have no busted, then if the dealer's point total is higher than the player's point total then the dealer wins (the player loses the main wager). If the player's point total equals the dealer's point total, then the main wager pushes (neither wins nor loses). Other options the player may have at his or her disposal is to double down or split. Cards are given their standard numerical value (i.e., aces count as 1 or 11 (whichever makes the best hand), 2's-10's count as their respective face value, jacks, queens, and kings all count as 10).

The present inventive concept relates to a method, apparatus, and computer readable storage medium to implement a blackjack game which provides the player different options if the player is initially dealt a pair. In the prior art, players split by placing an additional wager (equal in amount to the main wager) and the dealer “splits” both cards into two separate hands and the player plays each out separately as if it were a regular hand.

In an embodiment, when the player is dealt a pair for his/her initial two cards (or qualifying pairs), then the handling of this is mechanical (without any decision by the player). One or both of the player's two cards are replaced and then the cards are split so that each becomes a separate hand, but no additional wager from the player is needed.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of implementing a splitting in a blackjack game by replacing card(s), according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 takes place after operation 102 from FIG. 1 (thus, to perform the method illustrated in FIG. 2 start at operation 100 in FIG. 1 and then proceed to operation 200 after operation 102) . Operation 200 determined whether the player's initial two cards are a qualifying pair. A qualifying pair is a predetermined set of pairs. Note that a pair is defined as two aces, two 2's, two 3's, two 4's, two 5's, two 6's, two 7's, two 8's, two 9's and two 10-valued cards (a 10-values cards is 10, jack, queen, king) A qualifying pair is a subset of the set of all pairs. For example, the qualifying pairs can be only: aces, 2's, 3's, 6's, 7's and 8's but not any other pairs. Thus, 4's, 5's, 9's and 10's (any 10-valued cards) are non-qualifying pairs. If the player's initial two cards are not a qualifying pair (non-qualifying pair) then the method proceeds to operation 201 which returns to operation 104 from FIG. 1 and the game proceeds normally (the player's initial two cards cannot be split and must be played as one hand).

If in operation 200, the player's initial cards are a qualifying pair (e.g., they are a pair of 2's, 3's, 6's, 7's, or 8's) then the method proceeds to operation 202 which replaces card(s) in the initial player's hand. There are three possible embodiment of implementing operation 202.

In a first embodiment, the second card dealt is replaced with a new card from the deck. Then each card is played out as a new hand. Thus, a new card is dealt to the first card and these two cards from a hand which is played out as in operations 104-110 and a new card (replacement card) is dealt to the replaced card and these two cards from another hand which is played out as in operations 104-110. Both hands are then subject to the same dealer's hand as determined in operations 112 and onward. Note that the first card dealt to the player and the second card dealt to the player can be interchanged (in other words, the first card dealt is replaced and the second card remains). For example, if the initially dealt pair was a pair of 7's, then one of the 7's is discarded (burned) and a replacement card is dealt (for example a 9). Then a new card is dealt to the 7 (for example a 4 giving a two card starting hand of 11) and a new card is dealt to the 9 (for example a 10 giving a two card starting hand of 19). The player now plays out these two hands (11 and 19) separately and each can have its own independent outcome (i.e., the player can win one hand and lose the other, win both, lose both, tie both, tie one and win the other, tie one and lose the other, etc.) The player is also free to double on each of the hands if the player wishes in operation 104 (as described herein).

A second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment but if the replacement card is the same rank as the card it is replacing then another replacement card is dealt, and this continues until the replacement card is not the same rank as the original card being replaced. This ensures that the two cards that are being split are not a pair.

A third embodiment replaces both of the player's initial cards with newly dealt cards instead of just one. For example, if the player was dealt a pair of 7's, then both 7's are discarded (burned) and two new cards are dealt to the player, for example a 9 and a 2. These two cards are played separate (split). For example, the 9 is the first card in a first hand and the 2 is a first card in second hand. The dealer would deal an additional card to the 9 to form a first two card hand and an additional card to the 2 to form a second two card hand. Each of these two card hands is then played out independently by the player in accordance with operations 104 to 110, and then both are resolved in accordance with operations 112 and onward.

From operation 202, the method proceeds to operation 203 which plays out each hand separately. Each of the two cards in the player's hand is split and played as a separate hand (each card is dealt another card and then each two card starting hand is resolved as in operations 104 to 110). After the player plays out both hands, then the game is completed by performing operations 112 to 130.

The previous embodiments did not require an additional wager from the player to split cards (operations 202-203). In a next embodiment, the player must place a wager if the player wants to split hands and play out both separate hands. But unlike the prior art splitting, the player can play one hand (out of the two) without making an extra wager.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of implementing splitting in a blackjack game by offering the player an option to play one or both hands, according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 takes place after operation 102 from FIG. 1 (thus, to perform the method illustrated in FIG. 3 start at operation 100 in FIG. 1 and then proceed to operation 300 after operation 102)

In operation 300 it is determined whether the player's initial cards are a qualifying pair. If not, then the method proceeds to operation 301 which returns to operation 104 and the player's two initial cards cannot be split and the game continues where the player must play both initial cards as one hand.

If in operation 300 it is determined that the player's initial cards are a qualifying pair, then the method proceeds to operation 302, wherein the player makes a decision whether to play out both hands. The player can decide to split and play out both hands (like in the prior art game of blackjack) by placing an additional wager equal in amount to the main wager placed in operation 100. Or the player can decide to play just one hand and not make an additional wager.

If in operation 302 the player decides not to split (play both hands), then the method proceeds to operation 303 wherein one of the initial two cards (it typically would not matter which one, but it can be the first card or the second card) would be discarded and the remaining card would be used to play a hand of blackjack. An additional card would be dealt to the player which is combined with the remaining card which becomes the player's initial hand and then the method proceeds to operation 104 wherein the game proceeds normally. For example, if the initial pair was a pair of 3's, then one of these 3's is discarded and the hand starts with a 3 and then combined with a newly dealt card, such as if a 10 was dealt now the player has a two card hand of 13 to continue play normally. If the additional card is not the same rank as the remaining card then no further splitting would be possible. If the additional card is the same rank as the remaining card, then this can be handled in one of two ways: 1) no further splitting is allowed and the player must play out this two card hand; or 2) the method would return to operation 300 again. The player does not place an additional wager in operation 303.

If in operation 302, the player decides to play out both hands (split) then the method proceeds to operation 304 which receives an additional wager from the player of an equal amount to the main wager.

From operation 304, the method proceeds to operation 305, wherein both hands are played out separate (e.g., a split). Each of the two initial cards is separated, and a further card is dealt onto each of the two initial cards, and thus the player now has two separate two card hands. Each hand is to be played out according to operations 104 to 110, and then for both player hands the game continues at operation 112 and onwards. Thus, operations 304-305 perform a prior art split.

In a further embodiment, a variation of the method illustrated in FIG. 3 can be implemented which for a particular pair (or set of more than one pair), the player has the option to play out both hands separately (split) or play out the two card hand (the initial two cards dealt to the player) normally without splitting. In this embodiment there are three sets of pairs, qualifying pair(s) (which in FIG. 3 give the player the option to split or play only one hand), non-qualifying pair(s) (which are not split and the initial two cards are played as one hand), and play-option pair(s) in which the player has the option to split or play the two card hand. For example, in an embodiment, the qualifying pairs are: aces, 2's, 3's, 6's, 7's, and 8's. The non-qualifying pairs are 4's, 5's, and 10's (any 10-valued card). The play-option pair would be 9's. Note that each pair must fall in one (and only one) category. Thus, if the player gets dealt a non-qualifying pair then there player has no option and the pair is played as one hand. If the player is dealt a qualifying pair then the player has the option to play out two hands (split) by making an additional wager or playing out only one hand (without making an additional wager). If the player is dealt a play-option pair then the player has the option to play out two hands (split) by making an additional wager or playing out the pair as one hand.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of implementing splitting in a blackjack game by offering the player an option to play one or both hands with an additional play-option pair, according to an embodiment. In this embodiment (where play-option pairs are used) then FIG. 4 is used to augment FIG. 3. Play-option pairs are optional and if not used, then FIG. 4 is not used at all and FIG. 3 illustrates the entire method.

The method begins at operation 100 and then after operation 102 is performed, operation 400 is performed (in this embodiment, after operation 102 it proceeds to FIG. 4 not FIG. 3). It is determined whether the player's initial cards are a play-option pair. If not, then the method proceeds to operation 401, which goes to operation 300.

If in operation 400, it is determined that the player's initial cards are a play-option pair, then the method proceeds to option 402, wherein the player chooses out of two options: 1) play out both hands (split) and 2) play out the initially dealt two card hand as one hand.

If in operation 402 the player decides not the play both hands (split) then the method proceeds to operation 406 which plays out the two card hand normally. For example, if the player was initially dealt a pair or 9's then the player now has a total of 18 and the player can hit (allowed but not the proper play) or stand as the player chooses. The player does not place an additional wager for to play out the two card hand normally in operation 406. Thus, the method can continue to operation 104 from FIG. 1.

If in operation 402 the player decides to play out both hands (split), then the method proceeds to operation 404. Operations 404 and 405 and performed identically to operations 304 and 305. The player makes an additional wager equal to the main wager and then the initial pair is split (separated into two separate hands) and played out accordingly.). Each of the two initial cards is separated, and a further card is dealt onto each of the two initial cards, and thus the player now has two separate two card hands. Each hand is to be played out according to operations 104 to 110, and then for both player hands the game continues at operation 112 and onwards. Thus, operations 304-305 perform a prior art split.

Note that the house (casino) can set the qualifying pairs, non-qualifying pairs, and play-option pairs (if used) using any combination of pairs they choose. The ones listed above are merely examples but any other sets of the qualifying pairs, non-qualifying pairs, and play-option pairs can be used.

FIG. 5A is a drawing illustrating a gaming table, according to an embodiment.

A physical gaming table 500 (typically made of wood with felt on top with the layout imprinted on it) is used to play the game in a physical real world casino. One example of a table that can be used in a physical casino is illustrated in U.S. Design Pat. D263,975 which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The layout on top of the felt has imprinted on it seven betting circles as illustrated in FIG. 5A, each betting circle is where the respective player can place their chips (wager). The felt can be green and the imprinted betting circles can be white, although of course any color scheme can be used. Such a table can accommodate any number of players (such as seven as illustrated) or any other number (e.g. 2-10). All players play simultaneously against the dealer as known in the art. A player's hand 502 and a dealer's hand 501 are shown. A player's wager 503 is shown in the form of a chip or chips and is placed inside the player's betting circle. Also shown is a smaller side wager betting circle for each betting circle for each player. The dealer's area can also accommodate a physical card reader 504 for reading the dealer's hole card as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,039, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. The physical card reader can be an electronic card reader which electronically scans a face down card and lights up a particular light (e.g., LED, etc.) if the face down card is a 10 or ace (which would give the dealer blackjack when the dealer's up-card is an ace or 10 respectively) otherwise a different light (e.g., a “green light”) lights up telling the dealer that the hole-card does not give the dealer blackjack and thus the dealer can continue dealing.

While not shown, the game can also be offered with any type of additional side wager in order to generate more action for the casino and more excitement for the players. Also not pictured in FIG. 5A is an electronic mechanical shuffler such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,025,294 which is incorporated by reference here in its entirety which can optionally be used by the dealer to shuffle the deck or decks of cards. Also not pictured in FIG. 5A is an optional shoe which the cards can be placed into and dealt out of by the dealer, such as the shoe described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,457,512 which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIG. 5B is a block diagram illustrating an electronic player tracking system associated with each gaming table, according to an embodiment.

When players play casino table games the casino can typically track the player so that the casino knows how much gaming action a player is giving the casino and hence how much to reward each player with complimentaries (free or discounted rooms, food, etc.) Such a system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,817, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes. Each player can have their own players card which is a plastic card that has their name imprinted on it and computer readable indicia (e.g., a magnetic stripe) which stores an identification number of the player's card (and hence the identification number of the player who owns the card). The player's card can be swiped through an electronic card readers 323, 325, 326 which can be electronic read and the data therein transmitted to the associated computer.

A gaming table A 520 (which can be used to play any method described herein) and a gaming table B 521 (which can be used to play any method described herein) can be associated with a pit 522 (which has its own computer) which has a card reader 523 to read the electronically encoded information on a player's card (the card reader can also be located at the tables themselves) and transmit the information to an associated computer which can communicate information contained on the player's card (e.g., an identification number of the player associated with the card) to the electronic database 524 along with play data relating to the player who owns the player's card. Table A 520 has its own card reader 525 and associated computer (the one next to card reader 525 which receives information from the card reader 525) and table B 521 also has its own card reader 526 and associated computer (the one next to card reader 326 which receives information from the card reader 526). The computers at table A 520 and table B 521 are connected to the electronic database 524. Casino employees can enter data regarding each player's play (for those players that present a players card) into a computer at the table or at the pit which transmits the play data (e.g., average bet/wager amount, time of play, etc.) to the electronic casino database 524 that stores playing history information for players at the casino. The computers illustrated in FIG. 5B can all have the structure as illustrated in FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6A is a block diagram illustrating hardware that can be used to implement electronic versions of the wagering methods described herein, according to an embodiment. The hardware can be, for example, an electronic gaming machine (EGM) used in casinos. The hardware can also be a personal computer, playing the game using the Internet at an Internet casino for real money. The hardware can also be a digital casino table, for example the kind described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,775,887, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The hardware can also be any computing device, such as a cellular phone, tablet, etc., and the methods described herein can be installed as software (e.g., an app) on the device. The hardware can also be any other type of device, working individually or in conjunction with other devices. The hardware can also be a digital poker table, of the kind described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,758,411 which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

A processing unit 600 (such as a microprocessor and any associated components) is connected to an output device 601 (such as an LCD monitor, touch screen, CRT, etc.) which is used to display to the player any aspect of the method, and an input device 602 (e.g., buttons, a touch screen, a keyboard, mouse, etc.) which can be used to input from the player any decision made by the player. All methods described herein can be performed by the processing unit 600 by loading and executing respective instructions. The processing unit 600 can also be connected to a network connection 603, which can connect the electronic gaming device to a computer communications network such as the Internet, a LAN, WAN, etc. The processing unit 600 is also connected to a RAM 604 and a ROM 605. The processing unit 600 is also connected to a storage device 606 which can be a DVD-drive, CD-ROM, flash memory, etc. Multiple such processing units can also work in collaboration with each other (in a same or different physical location). A non-transitory computer readable storage medium 607 can store a program which can control the electronic device to perform any of the methods described herein and can be read by the storage device 606. The processing unit 600 can also be connected to a financial apparatus 608 which can receive cash and convert the received cash into playable credits for use by the player when playing the electronic device. When the player decides to cash out any remaining credits, the financial apparatus 608 can issue coins or a cashless ticket (voucher) for the remaining credits which is redeemable by the player.

While one processing unit is shown, it can be appreciated that one or more such processor can work together (either in a same physical location or in different locations) to combine to implement any of the methods described herein. Programs and/or data required to implement any of the methods/features described herein can all be stored on any non-transitory computer readable storage medium (volatile or non-volatile, such as CD-ROM, RAM, ROM, EPROM, microprocessor cache, etc.)

FIG. 6B is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary network configuration to implement a player playing an online version of the methods described herein. All the methods described herein can be implemented on an online casino for real money (credits which are purchased for cash and are redeemable for cash) or for non-cash value credits. A player uses a personal computer 610 (e.g., cell phone, tablet, PC, etc.) can connect to a server 611 (which can have the structure illustrated in FIG. 5A) using a computer communications network such as the Internet. The server 611 hosts an online casino which determines the outcomes of the game and serves the outcomes to the computer 610 so the computer 610 displays the outcomes to the player. Other users can also play at the online casino hosted by the server 611 simultaneously, such as using a cell phone 612 with wireless internet connectivity. Any number of players connected to the internet can play contemporaneously at the sever 611. The general structure of online casinos is well known in the art.

It is noted that the methods described herein can be played with any number of standard decks (physical or virtual) of 52 cards (e.g., 1 deck to 10 decks). A standard deck is a collection of cards comprising an Ace, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, jack, queen, king, for each of four suits (comprising spades, diamonds, clubs, hearts) totaling 52 cards. Cards can be shuffled or a continuous shuffling machine (CSM) can be used. A standard deck of 52 cards can be used, as well as other kinds of decks, such as Spanish decks, decks with wild cards, etc. The operations described herein can be performed in any sensible order. Furthermore, numerous different variants of house rules can be applied.

Note that in the embodiments played using computers (a processor/processing unit), “virtual deck(s)” of cards are used instead of physical decks. A virtual deck is an electronic data structure used to represent a physical deck of cards which uses electronic representations for each respective card in the deck. A virtual card is displayed on an electronic output device using computer graphics and is displayed to mimic a real life image of that card.

Methods described herein can also be played on a physical table using physical cards and physical chips used to place wagers. Such physical chips can be directly redeemable for cash. When a player wins (dealer loses) the player's wager, the dealer will pay that player a respective payout amount. When a player loses (dealer wins) the player's wager, the dealer will take (collect) that wager from the player and typically place those chips in the dealer's chip rack. All rules, embodiments, features, etc. of a game being played are typically communicated to the player (e.g., verbally or on a written rule card) before the game begins.

Initial cash deposits can be made into the electronic gaming machine which converts cash into electronic credits. Wagers can be placed in the form of electronic credits, which can be cashed out for real coins or a ticket (e.g., ticket-in-ticket-out) which can be redeemed at a casino cashier or kiosk for real cash and/or coins.

Any description of a component or embodiment herein also includes hardware, software, and configurations which already exist in the prior art and may be necessary to the operation of such component(s) or embodiment(s).

Further, the operations described herein can be performed in any sensible order. Any operations not required for proper operation can be optional. Further, all methods described herein can also be stored on a computer readable storage to control a computer. All variations and features described herein can be combined with any other features described herein without limitation.

The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification and, thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for implementing a blackjack game, the apparatus comprising: an electronic input device; an electronic output device; an electronic processing unit connected to the input device and the output device, the processing unit programmed to: receive a wager from a player; deal a player's initial two card hand; determine whether the player's initial two card hand is a qualifying pair; upon the player's initial two card hand not being a qualifying pair, then the player cannot split and the blackjack game continues using the player's initial two card hand as a single hand; upon the player's initial two card hand being a qualifying pair, then at least one of the cards in the player's initial two card hand is replaced in the player's initial two card hand, and each remaining card is played out separately as two separate hands. complete the blackjack game; and resolve the wager.
 2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further programmed such that only one of the cards in the player's initial two card hand is replaced with a replacement card.
 3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further programmed such that both cards in the player's initial two card hand are replaced.
 4. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the processing unit is further programmed such that as long as the replacement card is a same rank as the at least one of the cards in the player's initial two card hand then the replacement card is replaced with a newly dealt card.
 5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further programmed such that when each remaining card is played out separately, no additional wager is received from the player.
 6. A method to implement a blackjack game, the method comprising: executing instructions on an electronic processing unit to perform: receiving a wager from a player; dealing a player's initial two card hand; determining whether the player's initial two card hand is a qualifying pair; upon the player's initial two card hand not being a qualifying pair, then the player cannot split and the blackjack game continues using the player's initial two card hand as a single hand; upon the player's initial two card hand being a qualifying pair, then at least one of the cards in the player's initial two card hand is replaced in the player's initial two card hand, and each remaining card is played out separately as two separate hands. completing the blackjack game; and resolving the wager.
 7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein only one of the cards in the player's initial two card hand is replaced with a replacement card.
 8. The method as recited in claim 6, both cards in the player's initial two card hand are replaced.
 9. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein as long as the replacement card is a same rank as the at least one of the cards in the player's initial two card hand then the replacement card is replaced with a newly dealt card.
 10. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein when each remaining card is played out separately, no additional wager is received from the player.
 11. A method to implement a blackjack game, the method comprising: executing instructions on an electronic processing unit to perform: receiving a wager from a player; dealing a player's initial two card hand; determining whether the player's initial two card hand is a qualifying pair; upon the player's initial two card hand not being a qualifying pair, then the player cannot split and the blackjack game continues; upon the player's initial two card hand being a qualifying pair, then providing the player with a choice out of both 1) discarding one card in the player's initial two card and continuing the blackjack game with a remaining card in the initial two card hand, and 2) receiving an additional wager and splitting the player's initial two card hand into two separate hands; completing the blackjack game; and resolving the wager.
 12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising: after the dealing and before the determining, determining whether the player's initial two card hand is a play-option pair; only if the player's initial two card hand is a play-option pair, then providing the player with a choice out of both 1) playing out the player's initial two card hand as a single hand; and 2) receiving an additional wager and splitting the player's initial two card hand into two separate hands. 